The Eketahuna Express

Travel with Steam Incorporated north from Kapiti via the spectacular Manawatu Gorge to Masterton for an easy day out. The train will be hauled by two of our restored 1950’s era DA diesel locomotives and we will be using our fleet of classic red heritage carriages.

Passenger pick up stops will be Paekakariki, Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Otaki, Levin, Shannon, Palmerston North, and Woodville.

While travelling through the Manawatu Gorge you will be able to view the large slips that have closed the highway on the opposite side of the river. Leaving Woodville we travel south on rails used predominantly for freight traffic through to Masterton.

You have a choice of three destination options:
- To leave the train at Eketahuna and transfer by bus to PUKAHA Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre. Here you will have approximately 3 hours to explore the Reserve with its indoor and outdoor exhibits, including shop and café, before returning by bus back to Eketahuna to meet up with the train on its way north.
- To leave the train at Opaki (north of Masterton) to have a relaxing lunch at the Wingate Lane Restaurant. A five-minute walk through an adjoining paddock of grapevines takes you to this rail side restaurant where they are offering a tasty lunch menu. We can accept a maximum of 50 people.
- Alternatively, you can stay on the train through to Masterton. Here we will spend approximately 50 minutes repositioning the locos for the return trip. A coffee/snack cart will be available for any refreshment purchases, as will our Buffet Car.

The train will include a buffet counter selling burgers, sausages, sandwiches, drinks and snacks, and a souvenir counter for all sorts of railway and steam memorabilia.

Return train fares $10 less if boarding at Levin and $20 less if at Palmerston North.